Left Shoulder

[johngolf33]

Can anyone shed some light on the purpose of the left shoulder during a full swing. If the geometry of the circle puts Low Point under the left shoulder, shouldn't we try to make sure the left shoulder is in front of the ball at impact to assure ball turf impact?

[birdie_man]

Yes.

But don't start lunging forward man...never never....it may happen the slightest slightest bit......but not because you have tried to, really.

...

Setup with ball inside left shoulder some.

Keep head back (and experiment with where it should be at Address too...not always in centre of stance IMO....although there ARE varying opinions on this....Yoda likes it centered at all times, I believe...pesonally I like it to vary with club choice/shot trajectory).

Sustain Lag Pressure.

Ball-divot (automatically).

[Mathew]

There is no left shoulder control itself - there is a stationary point on the spine inorder to stablise its motion - ideally the head for its visual advantages, centered between directly between the feet which is the ideal - and the real control comes from your right shoulder which moves with great precision during the stroke.

[johngolf33]

I just remember years ago when I took lessons from Ben Doyle, he would say that the left shoulder is a great "leader" since it had to travel so far from address to finish. But I can't really find this in TGM so it must have been one of Ben's personal tips.

[johngolf33]

Does the spinning Flywheel of a swinger automatically move the left shoulder in front of the ball at impact, provided he cleared the right hip with some hip slide, insuring Low Point to be after impact?

[EdZ]

Not from the book, but the 'feel' of "hitting the ball with the back of the lead shoulder" can be very helpful to many swingers. Gets you to turn more fully and helps keep you from opening up the shoulders too soon on the downswing. One of my key images when I am lacking a good turn.

[phillygolf]

Can anyone shed some light on the purpose of the left shoulder during a full swing. If the geometry of the circle puts Low Point under the left shoulder, shouldn't we try to make sure the left shoulder is in front of the ball at impact to assure ball turf impact?

John,
I believe, and I could be wrong, that Homer preferred using the right shoulder as a reference point (give the accumulator power as well as the guide for the hands, so I personally would not get stuck on it. As long as your ball placement is not forward of low point (the only usefullness I believe Homer used the left shoulder for), you should be good.

I think.

I hope.



Patrick